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I couldn’t tell you when I officially “met” Luke. It just seemed like I’d known him all my life, although in reality it was probably only about 5 or 6 years. But that’s how he treated people, as if they were lifelong friends right from the get-go. He was warm, welcoming, kind, handsome, sweet, always looking for the humor. Every time I saw him, he would be so happy to see me, and give me the biggest hug, as if we were dear old souls that hadn’t seen each other in TOO long! And I would feel so so at home with him, like I belonged there. It meant a lot to me, as I didn’t have many genuine friends, especially in the theater environment. He would pull me in as if sharing a secret, eyebrows a-wiggling, but then say the silliest things that would make me hysterically laugh. Just like his mom, he was such a light, loving presence wherever he went, that I witnessed people naturally gravitate to him every time he walked into the room. He was always surrounded by people of all ages, smiling and laughing. You couldn’t help but be pulled in too, and want to be, or go, wherever he was. He was so passionate and had such a vision for a better world and country for his daughter. I constantly wonder about the changes and effect he would have had, because he would have been a force of nature. I miss his warmth, his light, but most of all I miss the way he made me feel – welcomed, loved, and part of his life. It was a such a powerful, meaningful thing to me, and, in effect, I inevitably felt like I lost a brother. That kind of impact left a huge imprint on me that I will never ever forget.
I first met Luke when Musicals at Richter was rehearsing Scrooge. It was the first indoor production for MAR and Luke had come to take the part of young Scrooge. I was quite amazed at how easily he learned the part and his fabulous voice. After the rehearsal we spoke briefly in the dressing room. I wasn’t sure how he’d react to a minor principle, so I just mentioned that it was obvious he wasn’t a neophyte. He laughed, and I added that it was a privilege to perform in the show with these talented people. Luke sang his duet with Caitlin which the house loved.
A few years later I was at a celebration of Frank Jesenky’s life. Luke saw me and greeted me with that smile and said, “It’s great to see you my friend.” I didn’t think he’d remember me from Adam. We kept in touch on Facebook and then I read about his tragic passing.
People speak about the ripples each life produces. Luke truly proved that we can touch many with simple and thoughtful gestures or words.
This took me a while to post…. but in the beginning of January 2020 my grandfather had passed away. I was extremely close with him growing up and he became very sick around early 2015. I remember the last time I saw Luke he was singing at St joes for Easter Sunday – during all that. So I’m gonna say March/April 2015. Actually I remember a woman tripped and fell after mass and he offered his Gatorade which I thought was ridiculous because she fell- she wasn’t passing out or dehydrated – anyway I digress. I knew when we went to the burial for my grandfather he was near Luke’s grave but not in total eyesight or completely nearby – just by the school like Luke was. There were some chairs right in front of the casket for the burial so I sat next to my mother and my grandmother- only the three of us right in front. The priest gave a blessing over the casket and right as he gave the blessing I heard wind chimes and turned to my mom and smiled because she could hear them too. The wind chimes kept going over the blessing and stopped after so I wanted to know where they were coming from while I was sitting there, and naturally started looking around for the source. Diagonally (really from only where I was sitting/my point of view) I see Luke’s tombstone with the wind chimes. It still gives me chills because I know he was saying hi. My mom and I went and said hey immediately after the burial- I actually yelled at him because I was pretty much detached as a coping mechanism for my grandfather’s whole wake/funeral and that moment made me extremely emotional. As if he couldn’t let me get through the weekend without losing it – I was almost there! It is a moment that I will never forget.
This weekend I was at a production of Carousel and I found myself tearing up every time the man playing Enoch Snow started to sing. Years later I can still hear Luke’s beautiful voice in my head. Carousel was my first show at CUA as a freshman, and I remember my friends and I just being in awe at his pure talent and kindness. I can’t remember how many times we would listen to him sing and and say “wow, Luke can do anything.” He was someone we all admired and we all still do. Those were my first memories of Luke and I’ll always think of him as Mr. Snow, the insanely talented and ridiculously kind legend.
The first time I saw Luke was on his highlight video where he immediately overwhelmed me with his gorgeous, mature voice at such a young age. We were preparing to do a show and Juliette sent me the link. So when I met him in person, I felt like I was meeting a star. And I was. I only knew Luke for a few years, but am deeply grateful for the friendship. The most vivid memory that always comes to me was that extended time during the show when it was just he and I in the dressing room. He was endlessly generous and encouraging. We talked about sports and family and future – and of course theater. As uniquely gifted as he was, he was always insistent on deflecting any compliments and turning it around back on me. I was honored to be part of a few very special family events – but I treasure those moments in that awful dressing room. Heaven’s blessings are yours now……
As it has been said before, Luke was somebody that you never forgot – not easily, anyway. I had the privilege to know Luke when he was a bratty trouble making Freshman (I say this only out of love) at CUA. I was Luke’s RA his Freshman year in Flather Hall.
It took me two years to be comfortable enough to share this since his death; mainly, because, there is still a bit of shock. I was scrolling through Facebook when Allison (whom I have never met – Hello!) posted lukegarrison.com. I feel compelled to tell this short story. To some, it will be meaningless. To many, including his daughter, Lucy, and Allison, I hope it provides a good laugh and insight on who the young Luke was.
It was Luke’s first day moving into Flather Hall, August 2012. I remember meeting his very gracious parents, as they helped Luke move in. From what I remember, I believe I assisted Luke with his belongings, as well. That evening, all of the RAs were to call their respective residents from their assigned floors (5th floor) for a meeting explaining the general rules of living on campus at CUA. I remember standing on top of a tv console in the first-floor “hang out” area shouting to the noisy and antsy freshmen. Luke was almost directly in front of me. I noticed him pretty quickly … mainly, because Luke wouldn’t stop talking. He interrupted. Asked silly questions. I remember him, to some extent, “putting on a show” for the rest of the residents (which, later on, would explain his love of acting, very literally, putting on a show). I remember thinking … “Fantastic. This kid will be the pain in my ass for the year.” I remember telling him to stop, listen, stop, listen, stop, listen. He kept interrupting me.
For most of that first year, Luke became more than that annoying bratty antsy Freshman. I had the privileged to see him grow up. For those that work, or have worked, in student affairs/residential life, you know the growth that takes place between Freshmen and Sophomore year. Luke’s growth was substantial. Mainly, because I got to know who Luke was. Luke, who unlike many on that floor (who I still have love for), was an old soul with more maturity than I had originally thought.
After the years, after I graduated, we didn’t talk as much; but, when I think back to being an RA in Flather Hall for the 5th floor, Luke is one of the first people I think of. That memory alone puts a smile on my face.
God Bless, Luke.
In the summer of 2017, I posted a request for book recommendations on Facebook. Luke sent me a private message in early August checking in on me, my young daughter, and wife…and to throw a few book recommendations my way. I often re-read this short Facebook messenger exchange, but that is not the point of this story.
Luke and I are on different ends of the political continuum, but I always felt we shared a similar openness to opposing ideas and healthy, respectful debate…viewing both as opportunities for expanding our personal lens and perspective. In that spirit, Luke passionately recommended a book written by a conservative US senator that he said had a profound influence on him as a father and young adult…he wanted to share it with me in hopes that I might be similarly impacted. I would never have sought this book out on my own due to my liberal/progressive leanings, but after Luke’s passing, I felt deeply compelled to read it in hopes of absorbing and implementing its lessons…it felt like a way to connect with Luke and continue to learn from him.
I loved the book. I gleaned many valuable insights that have broadened my worldview. What is most meaningful to me, however, is that this has shown me how Luke’s influence continues to ripple out into the world. My expanded perspective through his recommendation has impacted those in my circle, which subsequently impacts their circles, and so on. I love the idea that, in this way, Luke continues to positively influence those who know and love him, as well as those he never met.
Luke- you persist. You will always be an integral part of all of us.
I miss you, my friend.
A couple years back, I visited New York to see an old friend. Me, NOT from the area (clearly) decided to get on a subway with luggage to navigate from Grand Central to Times Square and over to Long Island. Lord, how naive. Anyway, I’m sitting on the subway and look over, and there’s Spencer and Luke standing there. What a small world! We said some hello’s. The subway doors opened and I was seconds away from being trampled, suitcases and all. Luke picked up my suitcase and proceeded to carry it through the subway station. Not even a second thought. I followed him and was able to make it to the next subway line safely. This has always stuck with me and I think about it often. I didn’t know Luke well at all, but that was the type of person he was. I’m so sorry to everyone. He was a spark of kindness in a busy chaotic city. I won’t forget it.
It will forever amaze me how Luke made every person feel special – like one of his closest friends. I remember distinctly going to see one of Luke’s shows in CT after I had graduated high school and thinking “I hope Luke has time to say hi,” given how many people he knew would be there (and given that he was literally a star in the show). He ran out to see us and lifted me like he always had through high school, giving us all huge hugs. His warmth and openness was unmatched, he made everyone feel welcome. I hope we can learn from him and pay it forward.
At Luke’s “Senior Recital” in high school, he sang several songs including Stars from Les Miz. But the song that really stuck out in my mind that night was Music of the Night from Phantom. I had been listening to Luke sing since he was a few years old. We would sing together in the car all the time, but one of my earliest memories of him “performing” was when we had bought him a Fisher Price microphone and speaker for his birthday, complete with mic stand. He performed for a bunch of people that we had over the house. He stood there at his mic in the living room with his toy guitar slung around his shoulder, and sang every song he knew. He was four.
Of course, I was at every one of his shows and performances throughout grammar school and high school. And I was always impressed with his beautiful voice. But at some point in high school his voice started to change from being a kid’s voice into a man’s voice. I noticed it at the Senior Recital.
I remember that moment so vividly. I remember being completely blown away listening to him sing. I am not going to describe it. You can listen for yourself. I know that those of you who knew him after high school will know that this may not be as good as his voice eventually became, but this is when I think it started. At least, this is when I first heard it happening. Honestly, it took my breath away. I told him exactly that after the performance.
I remember I was on the crew for Sweet Charity when Luke was portraying Vittorio. He was always so much fun to hang out with backstage. I remember a particularly goofy incident where he was pretending to speak on one of the prop phones. He actually said “Shush, I gotta take this.” And he proceeded to act out a full on conversation. Then he handed the phone to me saying “They need to talk to you!” It’s moments like this which always made me smile in college. My first day working on the show I was nervous because I had never actually been in crew for a show before. Luke made me feel comfortable because of little moments like what I just described. He always knew how to keep others at ease through his sense of humor.
Dear Luke,
It was a perfect summer night. The stars were out, the sky clear. There was a slight breeze but the the temperature was just right. It was one of those summer nights where any person would find themselves sitting outside for the evening perfectly content. Dusk had just began to fall and you could see a sliver of sunlight in the distance, painted across the golf course.
I was sitting in a rehearsal room of the big white house on top of the hill next to the theater. The lights were off and I was sitting in the dark. I don’t know why. I was in tech for Sound of Music. The other cast was onstage rehearsing and I suppose the kids in my cast were playing hide and seek outside, or sitting and watching the others perform.
All I remember was that I was sitting alone, in darkness, when you first came into my life.
And sure enough, it was the light I needed.
Juliette, your mother, rounded the corner first. I remember immediately feeling the sensation of excitement at the simple fact that Juliette was in the room. It’s a feeling I think I share with many people in this world. As you know very well, when your mother enters a room, it immediately becomes warm and full of life and a place that may feel incredibly unknown feels like home.
Spencer was not around, but you came through the doorway holding two wooden swords. If my memory holds true, you were debating something, which comes to no surprise. Your mother cut you off, seeing me sitting alone and immediately introduced us.
“Jack! Have you met my son Luke?” She said.
“… No… Hi!” I said hesitantly.
“Hi, I’m Luke!” you said.
Your mother had to run backstage, her scene was coming up. But after overseeing the initial meeting, she left swiftly with a smile.
A slight pause. We’re both sitting. In a dark room.
“Want to play?” you said, handing me one of your wooden swords.
I paused. Looking at the wooden sword and then at you. Your were slightly taller. Your muscles certainly bigger, and it was clear you were more experienced in athleticism than I was. (And let it be known that none of those facts ever changed as we grew up.) I was going to fail, I knew it. It probably wouldn’t be any fun for you. Still, what was I doing? I was just sitting, in a dark room, waiting for the night to be over. I wasn’t sad about that. I wasn’t happy. It was just another night.
I took a breath.
“I don’t know how.” I responded.
“I’ll show you.” You said.
You were determined. Not only to play with toy swords, but to make me play along. There was no way “no” was going to be an answer. (That too, never changed as we grew up.)
“Ok.” I said.
You jumped up and walked to the door, leading outside.
“Follow me.” You said.
We went to the front yard of Richter.
“Rightie or leftie?”
“What?”
“Are you right handed, or left handed?”
“Right.”
“Good. Here, take the sword in your right hand.”
“Ok…”
“Go.”
“Hey!”
You hit me. You hit me in the leg with the sword. It wasn’t hard. It didn’t hurt at all actually. I started to laugh and I hit you back. And then without any instruction or lessons, we began to swing the swords at each other left and right. Neither one trying to one up or hurt the other. Both of us were just having fun. And it was there, on the front lawn of Richter, surrounded by fire flies and the echoes of Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s “Edelweiss”, we played for the very first time, and our friendship began.
Your buddy,
Jack
On Sunday afternoon, August 27th, Luke was at a coffee shop in Silverdale, WA. He was there at that coffee shop both Saturday and Sunday afternoon. He was hard at work on law school stuff. He said he wanted to get everything done that weekend so he could devote all his time during the week to Allison and to everyone who were coming up for the wedding.
I was at the Verhofstadt’s house with Lucy and Alison on Sunday. Lucy and I had just gotten back from getting ice cream and she was down for a nap. During the afternoon Allison went out to visit Luke at the coffee shop and give him some loving support. She knew he hated being away from everyone, but it was important to him get this work done and not have anything else to do during “wedding week”. Luke and I were talking back and forth via text while he was at the coffee shop. In addition to his law school work, he was also trying to finish an article for Being Libertarian and I was sending him edits. Weeks later, I looked over his law school notebooks. He took very copious and detailed notes. I saw in that weekend alone he did a tremendous amount of law school work at the coffee shop. He had the work ethic of an ox, just like his brother Spencer.
At around 6pm, he met us all for dinner at the house that we had rented in Bremerton. His aunt Christine (Aunt Dean), his grandmother (G-ma J), and Al (Al My Pal) had just arrived from NJ. Luke, Allison, Lucy, Aunt Dean, G-ma J, Al My Pal, and myself had dinner on the deck overlooking the lake. I took a picture from the deck that night of the sunset on the lake and posted it on Facebook.
Luke was so happy. I remember he was flying Lucy around the house. He would put her on her stomach on one of his shoulders, and he would hold her arms out in front of her while he ran around the house. Of course, she laughed like crazy, and the very second he would stop doing it, she would yell, “More!”. He sat there at the table after dinner and eagerly told us stories about law school, and all the crazy SJW’s. He told us about the friends he had already made, and the professors he had made an impression on, and who had made an impression on him.
At the end of 2012, Luke attended my daughter’s sweet 16. He and another cast member were able to leave their rehearsal for “Avenue Q” in Rhinebeck a bit early and come down to the party at Locust Grove mid-way through. I think his presence literally amped the party up several notches, and I know Julia appreciated having him there for the candle ceremony. At the end of the night he came up to me and my husband to say good-bye, so sweaty from dancing that he said he did not want to hug us, but of course he did anyway. We talked about his plans for next year. He was so excited to go to Catholic University. He couldn’t wait. He said it was such a great school, and that we should definitely think about it for Julia. In the middle of our conversation another good song came on, and one of the girls dragged him off. “Guess I’m not leaving yet,” he said.
There were a few years at Lourdes where I spent a bit of my time doing publicity for the high school musicals. We did road signs, posters, t-shirts and press releases. Luke made it so easy. He was so photogenic and his charisma leaped off the page. I was able to get a big photo on the front page of the Life section of the Poughkeepsie Journal of Luke in rehearsal for “The Music Man” in 2012. A few weeks later at a school event, he stopped me at and thanked me so much for all the work I did publicizing the show. I was really impressed with his heartfelt sincerity, and his words meant a lot to me.
Both my boys have always been partial to using the “thumbs up” expression, especially in photos. If you knew Luke, then you were very used to seeing him do it. Luke used it all the time since he was very little. He even gave the thumbs up on his Great Adventure season pass photos, and 1st Communion photos! And, of course, there was those beautiful crooked thumbs :).
In this post are just a small sample of some of the pictures that we have of him giving the thumbs up. If you have any others, we would love to see them.
2.5 yrs ago Luke’s Uncle, ‘Al My Pal’, was diagnosed with cancer. Luke of course was in Seattle with his beautiful new daughter, Lucy, and Allison. On the day of the surgery as I was sitting in the waiting room while the 4 hour surgery was going on Luke text me: “I’m so sorry I’m not there with you, Dean. I love you so much. I love both of you so much. You know If I were home I’d be right there with you holding your hand. I’m there with you in spirit holding your hand.”
Today as I sit in the waiting room every morning for Al’s recurrent radiation treatment I think of these words and know that Luke is with me everyday holding my hand.
One of my first memories of Luke happened during the first semester of my sophomore year at CUA in Sweet Charity. I had only transferred from Vocal Performance to Musical Theater one semester prior. And looking back, besides some faculty, not many of my peers and new classmates saw me as anything but the awkward kid who tried too hard. I remember one night after a rehearsal for Sweet Charity, somehow I ended up at the trailers on campus where the seniors lived, and Luke was there also. It made sense for Luke to be there because he always knew how to make the right connections and to be the light of any friend circle he chose. But for me? For me it made no sense. I was like a baby deer in headlights. On top of that I was nervous as all get out. I tried to make some jokes that were a mediocre 6/10 and just awkwardly tap dance out of the room. But that’s not what happened. That night Luke said something that will always stay in my heart. It’s frankly insane how one short conversation can change your life. So, we were talking about something for a few minutes and then he said,
“You know, Bobby, even though you’re kind of weird, you’re pretty great. If people here took a little time to see past the awkward exterior they would see that you’re pretty awesome!”
And that stuck with me.
He was one of the first classmates to see me as more than an awkward kid. And from then on, he introduced me to all the seniors and juniors and they became my friends, and over the next several weeks I had felt like I had a whole new family of my classmates. He took a minute to see who I was and that changed me. And over the course of the year I was included in so many things that I know never would have happened before, and it was amazing.
So, each year all the students are entered in a student lottery to get numbers to select housing. I was frankly struggling to find a group of people who wanted me to be a part of their rooming plan and didn’t know what I would do. I got my lottery number and it was close to 200, which means I wouldn’t have any leverage in getting a good housing assignment to include people with. And I was really upset about that and started to think “What did I do wrong to not have anyone who likes me enough to think of me as someone who is a real friend? Why can’t I find a group of people who wanted to live with me?”
But one day, Luke and his other two roommates James, and Connor, decided to talk to me about housing. They asked me to be a part of their group and live with them. That blew me away. Throughout the year I became friends with Luke and his group, but I never thought I would be remotely thought about for anything like this. To me Luke was the coolest kid in school and practically had the entire Music School wrapped around his finger (both statements are absolutely true) and it would be crazy if I was actually, truly, friends with someone that cool and on his game. But he thought otherwise. He asked me to live with him and the guys. I couldn’t have been happier. And then we decided to research the apartments off campus and ended up having one of the most amazing apartments I’ve ever lived in for two years. Full of memories, growth, and love. I will always remember the day he asked me to be a part of his group. Because no matter what number anyone else got, I won the student lottery!
My daughter had been invited to one of Luke’s parties when they were young and it was when the Pokemon card craze was happening. There was a Pokemon tournament at his party and Liz was the only girl invited. When I came to pick her up when the party was done I found out that Liz had beat all the boys that had participated and how proud Juliette and Patrick was that she beat all of them at his party. None of the boys were sore losers and I admired Luke for that.
[posted by Amanda]
I had done just a few shows, and had met Allison in a previous show. I got my first lead role in a show and she was music director so I got to work with her first hand. Once we got about a month into rehearsals, this guy was coming and walking around with Lucy and was just the most perfect parent. He genuinely loved being there for us, his daughter and his love. Watching him and Ally parent together and getting to know him as he pushed me and made me feel so at ease was beyond amazing. I cannot express enough how his beautiful light and his love made me want to be better. Do better. We need more people like him. Do what you love and treat all with open arms, respect and enjoy all that we get. I will forever be changed by this man who I knew for such a short time. Thankfully, he will live on in his beautiful daughter and his loving fiancé. Gone but never ever forgotten. ❤️
[posted by Martine]
This is a very simple story, but it’s one I think about often. Every time I see a penny heads up – a lucky penny – I think of Luke. Senior year, I walked past him as he was cleaning out his locker and he was taking out a giant bag of pennies (I can’t even remember why he had them and I’m not sure he could either) and I got excited and asked if I could take one. He laughed at me but handed me one and I walked a few feet away before placing it down heads up. I told him to walk over, and he did, and pick up the penny. I then said “now you have good luck!” He laughed at me again and thought this was the most ridiculous thing, but then handed me the huge bag of pennies saying “here you go, go spread some more luck.” And I actually did place pennies heads up all over the school thanks to him. Amazingly enough, a few days after his passing, I opened a box and found the bag of pennies which I hadn’t seen since I graduated. I now keep them with me, since I’m pretty sure he wants me to keep spreading luck.
[posted by Emily Risley]
Luke was the most thoughtful person I know. He would always think of others in ways that would never occur to me. On days when I would need it most, almost as if he knew, he would text me to hang out or send a video of an amazing singer he wanted me to hear or picture memory. One of the most memorable times was during his last semester at CUA. I was working in Campus Ministry, and Luke would come by my office quite often to say hi. We were both super busy, and he would sometimes stop by when I was out. One of these times, I came back to the most “Luke” thing ever: a message made out of sticky notes on my computer. I took a picture and hold it in my heart always. I am so amazed that God gave me such an incredible friend. I feel his presence every day, and am reminded of him every time I see a sticky note.
[posted by Gina]
Luke was my first friend in high school and became one of my closest and longest lasting friendships. He listened to me complain about boys, even while he rolled his eyes, and knew how to make me laugh when I cried. When I felt alone he included me and made me feel accepted all the time. We talked about everything imaginable and that’s what I miss the most! He always told me the truth and had no problem telling me when I was wrong! One day in particular I remember him telling me to come pick him up from rehearsal and wouldn’t tell me where we were going. I was thinking oh great I’m not prepared for an adventure right now! He had me drive to Wendy’s, bought us each a frosty, and just sat and talked to me for hours. He knew something was wrong and knew I needed a friend at the time and he was fully prepared to listen, give me advice, make me laugh when we were talking too serious, and just be the person I needed the most.
[posted by Luke’s dad]
I have been reading the other wonderful stories written by some of Luke’s friends. I cannot put into words how thankful I am. Those stories have reminded me about something I thought I had forgotten. Many of the stories relate how in high school Luke would just walk up to someone he has never met before and make a friend. Well, you should all know, that was not something new that Luke learned. He had been doing that since he was very young. Luke was the only new student in his 1st grade class at St Joseph School in Millbrook NY. Every other student came directly from the kindergarten (Luke had gone to a different kindergarten). So they all new each other already. They all knew the school, the teachers, the principal, etc. There was only one spot left for 1st grade that year, and we got it. In October, when Julie and I went to school for parent/teacher meetings, we met the principal of the school at the time. Her name was Mrs. Cardella. When we introduced ourselves, she said, “Oh, you are the Mayor’s parents.” We were, of course, appropriately confused. So she explained to us, “We have all dubbed Luke ‘The Mayor of St Joseph’s’. He greets everyone he sees in the hallways. He knows the name of every teacher and administrator in the school already, and just walks around all day shaking hands, and saying ‘Good morning’, and ‘Have a nice day’ to everyone he sees.”
[posted by Pattie Camillone]
We met Luke, Spencer, Juliette and Patrick when our son Daniel was enrolled at The Sunshine School in Pawling, NY – 1999. Luke and Daniel were age 3 at the time. Juliette and myself became friends immediately. Being the moms of two boys & growing up in the restaurant business we immediately had a connection. In turn, our boys became friends. We had lots of playdates and social gatherings. Our boys always got along so well. They would spend hours playing with Thomas the Tank trains at our house or swimming in the pool at Luke’s. Luke and Daniel had similar personalities – two really sweet boys. Lots of patience and kindness between the two of them, perfect brothers to two younger siblings Spencer & Gregory. I love the memories of those early years, I look back on them and cherish those times.
I know I have some photos from those days, when I come across them I will certainly post them here.
[posted by Tracy Rowe]
It’s a silly thing really. I met Luke and Spencer when they were kids. Luke was probably 8 or 10, I don’t really remember. It was at the Thomaston Opera House, my then home away from home. Juliette often brought the boys to rehearsals, and I used to think they were so adorable and so well behaved. I could tell Luke had a mischievous streak, though. This is going to sound a bit icky, but I have contact dermatitis on my hands from years of painting and using chemicals, and I would tease Luke by flashing him the rash on my pinky. He would pretend to be disgusted and let out a loud EWW and run away. He never ran far, he was daring me to chase him, so I would. We would run up and down the back stairs, through the make up and costume room and back out to the stairs, all the while me holding out my hand and he and Spencer yelling ewwwww! After a while, Luke would seek me out, just waiting for the game to begin again. I was always more than willing to oblige.
A few years went by, the boys grew up and I didn’t see them very often. Juliette would always fill me in on them, and always let me know that Luke said hi, and that he sometimes asked about me. That really touched me. I didn’t expect a boy who was now a teenager to remember the silly lady who chased him around with her icky finger. During rehearsals for a show (I think it was Jekyl & Hyde) Juliette told me Luke was coming to rehearsal and wanted to say hi. She said he was excited to see me again (I’ll admit, I was skeptical-why would he be excited to see me of all people?). We were awkward around each other for a few minutes, then I showed him my icky finger and he burst out laughing. We hugged and laughed and chatted for a few minutes before he had to go. I didn’t see him much after that, but I followed Juliette on Facebook and was always up to date on what was going on in his life. I was thrilled to see the videos of him singing (such a beautiful voice), pix of his college graduation, of Allison and his beautiful daughter Lucy. Our lives only touched briefly, but Luke always had a special place in my heart and my memory.
[posted by Gina]
I will never forget the day I met Luke. I was so nervous being at the freshman picnic at Lourdes and I wanted to meet new people so bad. Well I will never forget meeting this loud boy in a pink polo. He walked right up to me and I soon realized we were insanely similar. Loud, goofy, and ridiculous. He was my first new friend in high school. Through the next few weeks we continued to talk all the time, always laughing and always there for each other.
[posted by Kathie Plaskiewicz]
I didn’t know Luke well, but loved working with him on ‘On Golden Pond’ at the old Warner Studio Theatre many yrs ago, when he played the grandson! I did Props & Set Dress & one of the many things I had to run around backstage doing, during each performance, was to literally ‘wet’ Luke all over backstage. since he was supposed to have been caught in a rainstorm. I had a big spray bottle of water & would spray him all over. Once, we were getting a little too close to the cue for him to go out onstage, so he grabbed the bottle, opened it up & poured it all over himself lol. He always wanted to get totally into a role & do whatever he needed to do! Happy Birthday in heaven Luke!
[posted by Anna]
I didn’t know Luke very well, and I didn’t know Allison at all at the time, but Luke and I were in a horrible gen ed English class on Greek Mythology. It was a 300 person lecture class with essays every week and it was interminably boring. I was a freshman at CUA and I hated it. Luke and Anna Murray were upperclassmen at the time and I could tell from the first interaction how inseparable they were. I was pretty timid around them because of how self assured and confident they were, but they both went to great lengths to make me feel welcome and included me in their group study and mid-class conversations. One day, Luke started coming in with a duffel bag, and I didn’t ask why until one day when he went racing out of class with the bag and didn’t come back for a few minutes. When he walked back in, he said “false alarm!” to the relieved laughter of many in the class. I was surprised how many people he knew and how his energy seemed to be infectious to so many. After class he told me that he’d been walking around everywhere with this bag because his fiancé was pregnant and he needed to be ready to hop on a plane at any point. He had gotten a call and thought it was time but it turned out to be something else. I didn’t know him well, but I’ll never forget how happy and loving he looked when talking about Allison and how unbelievably excited he was for Lucy’s birth. There was never any doubt how much he loved them, so much so, that it was shining all over his face. It was a really beautiful moment.
[posted by Allison]
One of my earliest memories I have of him is from my freshman year at Catholic University. He was a sophomore and we had only met a few times before I came down with a bad case of strep throat and had to miss several of my classes in my first few weeks. Luke texted me and told me he was coming over to my dorm, and he skipped two of his own classes to be with me and take care of me. He brought me medicine and soup from the school store and just sat with me as we watched youtube videos of people singing. I made him show me videos of him in Les Mis and was so blown away by that beautiful voice. I remember looking at him, sitting there laughing with me and being with me as I was lying there, no make up, feverish, homesick, and thinking “wow what kind of guy would do this for someone he barely knew?” He left for a class and came back later while I was sleeping and left a salt shaker he stole from the cafeteria for me so that I could gargle and help heal my throat. He had snuck it into his pocket and later told me he had a puddle of salt left in there and he also got it all over our floor, but it was totally worth it. He left a note that said he’d be back after class. This memory reminds me of how generous he was, to complete strangers like he was to his closest friends and family. It reminds me of how he would stop at nothing to help someone in need, and how compassionate he was to anyone who was suffering or having a hard day.
About a week later he ended up getting strep throat too, probably from me since he was with me an entire day, and I took him to urgent care and sat with him in the waiting room. When his name was called they said “family only” could come back and the waiting room had a somewhat sketchy downtown DC urgent care vibe to it, so he told them I was his wife so they would let me come back with him! I couldn’t believe they didn’t even question it and that he didn’t just say “sister” or something but jumped right to wife. We joked about that two years later, that somehow he already knew that we would end up getting married when he blurted out that I was his wife. This strep throat incident ended up being the foundation of our friendship in college and gave me such a clear idea of how generous and wonderful this guy really was.
[posted by Spencer]
As far as brothers go, Luke and I were pretty much inseparable, especially when we were little. Our days were filled with running amok doing silly (and at least a little stupid and dangerous) things in our backyard. There was this huge tree at the bottom of our driveway; it was the perfect climbing tree, the kind you could actually climb almost to the very top of. We would often hang out up there and make up stories about good guys and bad guys, cops and robbers, spies, etc. One time, however, we were having an epic lightsaber battle with our collapsible plastic lightsabers. I think I was a sith lord and he was a jedi and I was chasing him. He ran to the base of the tree, clipped his lightsaber to his belt (he had ample time to do this because he was so much faster than me), and started climbing tree. Refusing to be bested, I, of course, followed him up there. We got close enough to each other at the top of the tree, drew our sabers, and started going at it. Not only were we sword fighting IN THE TREE, but he was pretending to force push me and I was pretending to force choke him, all while perched on the high branches. Incredibly stupid? Yes. Amazingly fun? Also yes. Par for the course for our friendship growing up? Without a doubt.
[posted by Allison]
This picture is one of my favorite memories of Luke ever
We had just finished meeting with our priest for marriage prep and we’re going to walk to dinner before we needed to hear back to the church for choir practice. It was a beautiful, warm day outside and we decided midway through dinner we both wanted ice cream. I said we should just play it safe and order it off the menu so we weren’t late for choir practice. Luke knew I preferred ice cream in cones and he wanted an “exciting flavor” (lol) instead of plain, so he found a place we could walk to on his phone and we decided to risk it. We speed walk to this place because we were cutting it close and we get there and the place had closed like a month before. I started laughing and saying “told you so” (like the awesome fiancée I was) and he finds ANOTHER place on his phone. I started to argue that we will be so late and he grabs my hand and says “ITS HAPPENING” and we literally sprint there. While I order inside for us, Luke calls an UBER to drive us 4 blocks to rehearsal since we were going to be so late if we walked and we jump into this car with huge ice cream cones. We made it to rehearsal with one minute to spare and it took us a good half hour to finish our cones in between singing some sacred music. He had this big smile on his face the whole rehearsal and we kept laughing at how ridiculous that was the entire time. He never settled for anything, even something as small and silly as ice cream, and I loved that about him so much.
[posted by Luke’s Dad]
When we lived at Maplebrook School for three years when I taught there, Luke had just started high school. The students at Maplebrook were all around the same age as Luke. Both Luke and Spencer became acutely aware very quickly of how blessed they were, and how easy it would have been for their lives to have turned out like the lives of those Maplebrook students. It was a boarding school for severely learning disabled students. They were far from home, far from their families, and often felt very alone. We lived in the boys dorm, and Luke and Spencer both would help the teenage boys with doing some of the things that we all take for granted. They would help them with homework, help them tie their shoes, and teach them how to tie a perfect Windsor Knot in their necktie. There was a sports program there, but there were very few schools to play against and games often went overlooked. One winter, Luke started to notice that basketball games were getting cancelled because they could not find referees to ref the games. The school didn’t pay very much, and refereeing a basketball game for a bunch of learning disabled, Asperger, anger-issue laden kids was not something that evidently appealed to certified referees in the area. So Luke took it upon himself to go to the administration and tell them that he would referee their games. Luke felt that these kids deserved better than that. He also knew that he could supplement his income by refereeing all the home games. They told him that he was not allowed to because he wasn’t certified. So Luke found an online course, taught himself, passed the certification test, bought all the uniforms and gear he needed with his own money, and became a basketball referee. I didn’t even know about his plan until he had passed the test. He did it completely independently. To me, that always had said so much about Luke. He saw a need, and he filled it. He saw an opportunity, and he took it. And there were no more cancelled basketball games at Maplebrook that year (2010).
